Surviving the Dreams

Chapter 9 - A Real Town

The one week wait for Father Yuen to visit the village parish stretched into two and then three. Finally, after more than a month, he arrived. In the meantime, Greg and Susan learned that the village Father Juong's church served was distantly related to Baja's. Indeed, it wasn't all that different in many ways except this village had a church instead of a Long House, and their huts had brick floors instead of being on built on stilts. Other than the meager furnishings in the room they were using, there was little sign of the modern world here, and yet there were some. Radios were plentiful, though no one had a phone. Windows were made out of glass, though drinking vessels generally weren't. Parishioners dressed in western dress on Sundays, but in their native garb the rest of the time. Still the people seemed to know a bit more about the outside world, giving Greg and Susan some hope that this was indeed the place they needed to be to eventually get home.

It was towards the end of the Passover week when Father Yuen finally arrived, carrying the mail for the parish there. He stayed several days and conducted Sunday services on Easter Sunday that week. Only afterwards did Father Juong introduce Greg and Susan to them as Mr. and Mrs. Gaffney and their daughter, Jessie.

"They came to me with Baja's clan when they came to trade the fish and the beads. They say they were shipwrecked when their boat came apart in a storm," Father Juong explained.

"How can I help you?" Father Yuen asked.

"We are lost and are trying to find our way home," Greg explained. "Father Juong thought you might have the means to do that."

"He told us you have regular contact with the outside world," Susan added.

"Ah that. Yes. What sort of contact do you need?"

"Do you have a phone?" Greg asked.

"No."

"Regular boat service to other islands?"

"Only the mail service, but they don't take passengers," Father Yuen said.

"Do you have contact with any Americans?" Susan asked.

"There are some Protestant missionaries that run a school on the far side of town," Father Yuen said. "I think they may be American. I could put you into contact with them."

Greg and Susan looked at one another. "That would probably help. May we come with you?" he asked.

"You may. Unfortunately, my transportation broke down. I have been forced to walk to deliver the mail, which is why it's taken me so long to get here. In all probability, I will have to walk the rest of my route and all the way back."

Greg and Susan looked to one another.

"We can do that," they assured him.

"What about your baby?"

"I can carry her," Susan told him.

"We both will," Greg added.

"It won't be fast," Father Yuen warned.

"That's okay," Greg assured him. "We simply need a guide to get us there."

"That I can do," Father Yuen agreed. "We will leave in the morning, after first prayers."

^^^

Greg and Susan stayed up later in their little cottage than was usual, packing their things. They knew they needed depart at first light to go with Father Yuen and they wanted to be ready. Susan slept in the chair that night in order to give Greg the opportunity for a proper rest. After nearly a month of sleeping sitting up, he didn't argue and gratefully accepted.